Joe Root becomes the 7th Test batter to complete 1500 runs in a calendar year

Joe Root is the first English batter to aggregate 1500 test runs in a calendar year. He did so in the Ashes 2021-22. The England skipper paved through all and set this record by scoring 1541 test runs in 2021 yet. There are 6 more batters who achieved this remarkable feat before Joe Root. Let's take a quick look at them and their knocks in the respective years.

1. Vivian Richards (1976)

Sir Vivian Richards is the first-ever cricketer to score 1500 test runs in a calendar year. In the year 1976, the West Indies cricketer hit 1710 runs and opened the record book of 1500 test runs in a calendar year. Also, he is the second-highest test run-scorer in a calendar year.

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2. Ricky Ponting (2003,2005)

Next up on this list is the Australian legend, Ricky Ponting. Ponting scored 1500 test runs in a calendar year not only once but twice in 2003 and 2005. Interestingly he is the only cricketer to do so. In 2003. Ponting scored 1503 runs including 6 centuries with an average of 100.20 and 1544 runs in 2005 including 6 centuries with an average of 67.13.

3. Mohammad Yousuf (2006)

In the year 2006, Mohammed Yousuf aggregated 1788 test runs in 11 matches. The Pakistani cricketer became the fourth batter to complete 1500 test runs in a calendar year. Interestingly, he is the highest scorer in test matches in a calendar year.

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4. Graeme Smith (2008)

In 2008, Graeme Smith of South Africa scored 1656 test runs with an average of 72 including 6 centuries. Also, his highest score in that year was 232. He is not only the fourth cricketer to reach the feat of 1500 test runs, but also is the third-highest test run-scorer in a calendar year.

5. Sachin Tendulkar (2010)

Sachin Tendulkar is also present in this prestigious list. He reached the achievement in 2010 after scoring 1562 test runs with the highest score of 214. With an average of 78.10 and a strike rate of 55.90, Tendulkar reached this position in 2010.

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6. Michael Clarke (2012)

Michael Clarke sits on the 6th position of this list after he scored 1595 test runs in 2012. With an average of 106.33 and a strike rate of 65.96, he aggregated more than 1500 runs in that year and hit the highest score of 329* as well.

7. Joe Root (2021)*

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The English captain aggregated 1541 runs in 2021 so far and reached the stage of becoming the first-ever batter from England to achieve this feat. He set this remarkable record on Friday on the 3rd day of the ongoing Ashes 2021-22 series against Australia. Partnered with Dawid Malan, Root scored 86 and Malan scored 80. Both of them remained not out and helped England to reach 220-2 on Day 3.